Heavy liquid fuel carburetor



Dec. 27, '1938. c. J. MUNDHENK 2,141,194

HEAVY LIQUID FUEL CARBURETOR Original Filed April 22, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l4 r m gli f2 2 K 'nml MM www Z2 "xllulmw @Ms mZ/WM 2f I l i; by wwf/1% Dec. 27, 1938. c. J. MUNDHENK 2,141,194.

HEAVY LIQUID FUE CARBURETOR Original Filed April 22, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Infanto r: Vier/e5 Hand/7637,(

by: Ma,

De. 27, 193s.

C. J.. MUNDHENK HEAVY LIQUID FUEL CARBUREIOR 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 Original Filed April 22, 1952 fm/e/zzo r. Char/as ([Hynden/r. 13].' @wm/@n WMU nnnnnw Dec. 27, 193s. C. J. MUNDHENK 2,141,194

HEAVY LIQUID FUEL CARBURETOR I /Original Filed April122, 1932 v4 Sheets--Sheet 4 @yf Kluge. zzys.

Patented Dec. 27, 1938 y UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE Application April 22, 1932, Serial No. 606,991 Renewed March 5, 1938 7 Claims. This invention relates to a means for producing an explosive mixture from crude oil distillates or any heavy liquid fuels and air suitable for use in connection with internal combustion engines, oil burners, etc.

In my United States Patent No. 1,246,305 on Kerosene carburetor, issued November 13, 1917, I disclosed a means and a method of converting kerosene into a gas and mixing the converted gas witha suitable quantity of air to produce an explosive mixture. The generation of the gas was eiected by the direct burning of the surface stratum of a body of oil at a point between the latter and the region where combustion took place.

The present invention makes use of the same 'method of gas generation for the.purpose of keeping a minor part of the liquid fuel intake ignited and providing means whereby a blowtorch flame may be maintained for 4superheating the main portion of the liquid intake and intermixing the products of combustion of the blowto1'ch" flame with the major portion of the liquid intake within a generator chamber in which an insutllcient amount of oxygen is admitted to support combustion to any appreciable extent. The superheated highly gasiiled fuel of the major portion intake, after being intermixed with the heated products of combustion of the minor portion intake is drawn into the` cylinder of the engine together with a sufiicient amount of air to explode the mixture in the engine cylinders. .1

The main object of this invention is to provide means'whereby heavy fuel oils and crude oil distillates may be so prepared that it provides, in combination with air, the ideal explosive mixture for internal combustion engines.

Another object is to provide means whereby o4 the generator elements may be kept-comparaatomized fuel of the major intake to the end A still further object of my invention is to` provide a means whereby the heated products of.

combustion of the minor portion of the liquid intake may be intermingled with the heated and that the rate of explosion within the cylinder may be prevented from being too rapid and cause the engine to knock.

A further object is to provide improvements on the means and method disclosed in my abovementioned patent.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following speciication, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims,

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device of my invention,

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the opposite side of the device,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device,

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the air inlet means,

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure '7,

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line 6--6 of Figure 7,

Figure '7 is an enlarged vertical sectional detailed view of the device,

Figur;` 8 is a section taken along the line 8--8 of Figure '7,

Figure 9 isa section taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 7,

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the line Ill-I of Figure 8, and

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken lin'e vII--II of Figure 8.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a casing I having chambered body sections 2, 3, and 4. The body section 2 consists of a' oat valve cup portion and an outwardly extending hollow chambered base 6 integral therewith. 'I'he valve cup 5 is provided with a cover 'I having a vertical passageway 8 and a horizontal passageway 9 which communicate with each other.

The vertical passageway 8 is provided at its lower portion with a valve' seat I6 which is adapted to snugly receive a valve II provided with a. shaft II. 'I'he upper part of the cover section 1 surrounding the passageway 8 is threaded interiorly for receiving a threaded plug I2 which is provided with an elongated recessed portion I3 for slidably receiving the upper end ofthe shaft II. The lower end of the shaft II' is slidably mounted in the bottom I4 of the cup portion 5.

Said-bottom I4 is provided with a threaded recess I5 for receiving a tubular extension I6. The lower end of the' shaft is slidably secured in this tubular extension and its end is supported in a counterbore I1 of the recess I5. Slidably along the mounted on the shaft II is a hollow float I8 which is provided with a bent spring I 9. 'I'he spring I9 is perforated for receiving the shaft II which is provided with an abutment 20 whereby the spring may lift the valve II against the flooded with fuel. The closing of the valve Il, of course, prevents additional liquid from entering the float valve chamber.

The horizontal passageway 9 may be operatively connected with a liquid fuel supply by means of a fuel inlet pipe 2|. The tubular extension I6 prevents the float from resting on the base i4. This is considered desirable, as it prevents sediment on the bottom of the cup portion 5 from interfering with the proper operation of the iloat. The cup portion 5 is also provided with a threaded outlet 22 and drain means 22 whereby the cup 5 may be flushed.

Intermediate of the valve cup 4portion 5 and the body portion 3, the base 6 is provided in its top wall 23 with a cylinder 24 which communicates with the hollow interior 25 of the base portion 6 by means of an opening` 26, (Fig. 10). The opening 26 slidably receives a shaft 21. This shaft is threadedly connected atits upper end to a push rod 28 and is threadedly connected at its lower end to a rigid bar 29 (Figs. 7 and 9).

The shaft 21 is provided with a helical spring 39 (Fig. l0) for resiliently forcing the shaft 21 and the push rod 28 upwardly. The bar 29 supports a corneal or needle shaped valve member 3 I. This valve member is adapted to fit against a valve seat 32 in'a recessed plug 33. The plug 33 is threadedly connected to an interiorly threaded and upwardly extending tubular projection 34 which is integral with the base 6.

The lower wall 35 of the base 6 is provided with a downwardly extending tubular portion 36 which is adapted to threadedly receive a plug 31.

The plug 31 has a recess 38 in which the lower portion of the valve 3| is slidable in alignment with the valve seat 32. The top wall 23 and the bottom wall 35 are provided with aligned openings 39 and 46, respectively, for receiving a tubular member 4| which is provided with an integral4 collar 42. The tubular member 4| is also provided with a plurality of transverse openings 43 for admitting fuel oil to the tubular member. The lower portion of the tubular member 4| is threaded as4 indicated in Figure VrI to receive a cap 44 for closing the lower endof the tubular member. The upper portion of the tubular member is threaded interiorly to receive an exteriorly threaded tube 45 having a. collar 46 integral therewith.

The base 6 is also provided with an integral drain 41. The chambered body sections 2 and 3 may be detachably connected in any suitable manner, such as for instance, by means of U- shaped lugs 48 (Figs. l, 8 and 11) integrally formed with the body section 2 and spring-pressed rods 49. The rods 49 are each provided at their lower end with a tapered head 50. Each of these rods is sldably held in Va. recessedportion 5| (Fig. l1) of the body section 3, substantially as shown. The upper portion of each of the rods 49 is threadedly connected to a threaded sleeve 52. The lower part of the recessed portion 5I is threaded interiorly and is provided with an exteriorly threaded sleeve 53 having a collar 54. A spiral spring 55 encircles each of the rods 49 and exerts an upward pressure on the -rods in a manner which may be well understood by referring to Figure 11.

The chambered body section 3 is substantially cylindrical in form and is provided at its'upper portion with an outwardly and upwardly extending conduit 56 (Fig. 7), also with an air and fuel mixing chamber 51, later described. The

Yvalve sea't I6 when the cup portion 5 is sufficiently top wall 23 of the base 6 is provided with an annular shoulder 58 whereby the body sections 2 and 3 may be properly positioned with respect to each other.

An oil cup 59 (Fig. '7) having a cylindrical wall 60 and a raised central portion 6| rests upon the top wall 23 of the base 6. The raised portion 6I is provided with a central circular opening 62 (Fig. '7). This oil cup is also provided with a circular opening 63 intermediate of its center and its cylindrical wall 68. The tube 45 extends through this opening, the collar bearing on the bottom of the cup and so operatively connecting the oil cup 59 that the liquid will pass from the tubular member 4| into the oil cup 58. The collar 46 clampingly engages the oil cup in a liquid tight manner. The oil cup 59 and a centrally perforated generator cup 64 (Figs. 7 and 8) are clamped together by means of an interiorly and exteriorly threaded plug 65 which is provided with an annular shoulder 66.

The oil cup 59 is also provided with a circular wick 61. The oil cup constitutes the primary generating chamber because the fuel vapor produced at the beginning of the operation is due to the burning which takes place at the wick 61. The wick is supported in its desired position by means of a plurality of U-shaped clamps 69 which are provided with an outer curved Strip 10 whereby the wick 61 is prevented from contacting with the cylindrical wall 60 of the oil cup 59. The cylindrical wall 68 of the body section 3 is provided with an interiorly threaded tubular projection 1| for the purpose of receiving a spark plug 12, the electrodes 13 of which extend inwardly, substantially as shown.

The cylindrical wall 68 is provided in its mid portion with a plurality of openings 14 (Figs. l, 2 and 8) for the admission of air to the interior of the carburetor.- 'I'hese openings are covered by a cylindrical screen 15 which may be secured in position in any suitable manner. A cylindrical perforated outer mantle 16 is provided with an outwardly flared lower portion 11 and a reduced upper portion 18.

The lower portion 11 is positioned immediately above thecurved strip 19 of the U-shaped clamp 69 and is held centrally in position by means of a plurality of downwardly and outwardly extending springs 19 which are iixedly secured to the mantle 16 in any suitable manner, such as,

by welding.

The springs 19 may be perforated at their ends and may engage and be supported by an abutment member, not shown, on the inner side of the cylindrical wall 60 of the oil cup 59. The plug 65 is provided with an exteriorly threaded tube 90, the upper portion of which is tapered outwardly. The tube 80 is threadedly secured to the interior of the upper portion of the plug 66 and is provided with a washer 8|. A centrally perforated spider 82 is secured by the washer 8| and the tube 80, substantially as shown. The

' outer end of the spider 82 rests upon the base of the generator cup 64 and supports a vertically extending tube 83, the lower portion 84 of which is enlarged substantially as shown. The annular space between the generator cup 64 and the tube 83 together with its lower portion 94 constitutes the secondary generating chamber. The open upper end of the generator cup communicates with the primary generating chamber (oil cup 59) as 'can readily be traced in Fig. '1. The tube 83 provides means through which the heated fuel vapors pass into the mixing chamber 51.

A perforated disc 85 is fixedly secured in the lower portion 84 of the tube by metal bands 86 which are rigidly secured to the tube 83. The disc is prevented from warping by means of in- -wardLy extending cutaway portions 88 of the upper metal band. Overhanging and spacedapart from the generator cup 64 is an inner v duit 58. 'I'he upper portionof this. mixing chammantle 89, theupper portion of which is bent inwardly and provided with a cover 98. The cover 98 is centrally perforated and is afllxed to the tube 83 by spacing tubes 9| and 82. The mantle-88 is in hooded but spaced relationship to the openA end and outside of the generator cup 84. In addition to its centrah perforation in which the tube 83 is received, it has other y perforations adjacent to its top. These lead into the space constituting the secondary generating chamber with more or less directness, and their function is to admit fresh air to the fuel vapor in said space to produce an intensely hot blowtorch flame. 1

A perforated fiat ring 93 (Figs. 5 and 7) is concentrically positioned around the tube 83 and is supported by the spacing tube 82. 'Ihe ring may be provided with flat twisted projections 94 which are inclined at an acute angle to the vertical plane. 'I'he ring 93 is provided for the purpose of breaking up the flame arising from the oil cup so that it may be mixed with sufllcient air to burn cleanly and prevent an undue amount of smoke from escaping through the conduit 56.

'I'he mixing chamber 51 is provided in its lower portion with an opening 95 to the lower side of which is secured a downwardly depending tube 88. The tube 88 has an integral collar 91 positioned at its upper end. 'I'his tube is telescopically and slidably mounted within the tube 83. A shield 88 is attached underneath the mixing chamber 51 and provides means whereby the products of combustion are deflected into the conber is provided with an opening 98 and an integral depending tube |88 through which the explosive mixture passes into the intake mani-` fold of the internal combustion engine. In the opening 98 is a butterfly throttle valve I8| which is xedly secured to a turnably mounted shaft 82 which projects through each side of the upper portion of the cylindrical wall 58 (Fig. 2).

' The mixing chamber 51 is provided with an air inlet means |83. The air inlet means is provided with any suitable choke valve |84 and further with a dividing wall |85 (Fig. 4) S0A that the air inlet means may have two air conduits |86 and |81. These conduits may be provided with separate valve means |48.

Rigidly secured to one end of the shaft |82 is an adjustable crank means |88 (Fig. 3) to which a lever arm |89 is pivotally secured. The lever arm |88 is provided at its bottom with a fiat portion ||8 (Fig. l) which is in sliding relation to the push rod 28. This lever arm is also provided with a slotted opening |||vin which is positioned a guide pin ||2 which is rigidly secured to a. bar ||3. The bar |I3 `is fixedly secured to the cylindrical wall 58 in any suitable manner, such as i for instance, by means of screws IM. The crank terfly valve IIE. The butterfly valve is provided with a spring-pressed shaft ||1 whereby the valve may be turned in any desired position and retain its adjusted position.

The conduit 56 is also providedl with a screened air inlet opening H8 (Fig. 7), for the purpose of checking the draft through the lower portion of the carburetor. This opening is partly covered by a shield ||9 for the purpose of preventing the air draft from unduly affecting the operation of the carburetor flame. The mantle 16 is provided with an opening |28 (Fig. "7) next to the spark plug 12.

'Suspended from the upper part of this opening |28 is an insulated arm |2| to which is xedly secured a metal'conductor strip |22. This strip is made of a. metal adapted to resist intense heat and its lower portion overhangs the wick and is adjacent but does not touch one of the U-shaped clamps 69. The spark jumps from the electrode 13 tothe strip |22 and provides a spark by which the wick is ignited.

The spark jumps either to a portion of the wick or to the U-shaped clamp and is grounded to the l cylindrical wall 88 by means of the curvedportion 18.

'I'he end of the shaft |82 opposite the end of the shaft to which the crank |88 is attached is provided with a bell crank |23 (Figs. 2 and 3). One end of the bell crank |23 may be operatively connected to the throttle rod (not shown) operated by the foot. The other end may be operatively connected to the hand lever (not shown).

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. The fuel is passed into the float valve cup through the pipe 2| and the passageways 8 and 8. When the fluid reaches a predetermined level in the cup, the float I8 rises by reason of its buoyancy and pushes the valve I against the valve seat i8. `'I'his prevents additional fluid from passing into the cup as longas the float valve keeps the valve closed. A small amount of the fuel passes through the openings valve |8. The wick is now lighted by reason of the 'operation of the spark plug 12. It is of course understood that the valve ||5 (Fig. 1) is in the vertical position and permits the products of com-.

bustion to passA out of the carburetor.

The air is admitted into the carburetor above 'the level of the wick. The flame quickly consumes the air adjacent the surface of the oil,l

and at the same time the surface of the oil is heated sufficiently to provide a fuel vapor which 'quickly becomes ignited. The flame remains on the top surface of this fuel .vapor and repeated tests have shown that in actual operation, the shocks incidental to traveling are insuiilcient to cause the flame to become extinguished.

T'he cuter and inner mantles and the adjacent portions are immediately heated by the flame and the internal combustion engine (not shown) to which my carburetor is operatively attached may be started without anyundue delay. When the engine is started, the suction caused by the pistons draws the flame downwardly toward the oil. together with a large amount 1 of the vaporized fuel beneath the flame into the passageway between the inner mantle and the outer wall of the generator cup 84. The upper portion of the inner mantle is perforated and through these perforazione air is mlngled with the indrawn flame and fuel so that the entire mass is ignited. This ignited mass is nowdrawn between the upper wall portion of the generator cup and the tube Il.

Due to the freshly admitted air and the suction, the heat of the flame here is intensely hot and is similar to that produced by the conventional gasolene blowtorch. This blowtorch flame is drawn underneath the tube 83 and immediately below the perforated disc 85. Y

-This name heats all the adjacent elements and the major flow of the fuel passing the valve 3l is vaporized by the time it strikes the disc 85 and passes through its perforations. The products of combustion of the blowtorch flame and any unconsumed mixture of airand gas are drawn through the perforations and intermingled with the atomized vapor of the major flow. The amount of air, howevenpming into the tube 83 above the disc 85 is insufficient to support any appreciable combustion. These gases now pass through the somewhat elongated tube 83 and are intermixed with the air in the mixing chamber 51 and passed into the manifold-` ofthe engine.

The intensity of the heat yif the flame in the lower portion of thev generat i cup is soon transmitted to the oil cup and rapidly volatilizes the oil in the base of the cup` Wlienthe engine is 'f stopped, the-suction of cours ceased-.and the wick may be left burning if the automobilisto remain standing only a short time ,A Th ame of the wick may be entirely extingu throttle valve IIB which may be operatively connected to the dashboard (not showniifin any suitable manner. g

If desired, a deflecting shield or screen v |24 (Fig. 7) may be flxedly secured substantially as shown, at the entrance of the conduit 56. The action of the shield is such as to force the rising gases within the lower portion of the carburetor to become more evenly distributed. It will of course be understood that all of the parts in the carburetor which are subjected to a high heat should be made of a metal adapted to withstand intense heat.

The intermixture of the consumed and unconsumed particles of fuel reduces or entirely prevents the engine from knocking. It is believed that the thorough distribution of the tiny consumed particles among and around the unconsumed particles causes the ame of explosion to travel in a long circuitous path in a'manner which materially reduces its rate of propagation.

The valve means I lllmay consist of tapered tubular inserts provided with hinged ap valves Ill which may be weighted as is shown in Figure 4 at |42 and |43. This construction provides a non-fluttering air valve.

Y The cylinder 24 is provided with an integral collar 24 and may be either threadedly connected or Welded in a water tight manner to the top wall 23 of the base 6. It will, of course, be understood that the circular wick 51 may be reinforced on its inner side by any suitable circular metal band, not shown.

I claim:

1. A carburetor comprising a primary generating chamber in which fuel is burned with a restricted amount of air t) producea fuel vapor, means through which the fuel vapor is adapted to be drawn off, said means defining a space constituting a secondary generating chamber, means to admit fresh air to the vapor in said space to produce an intensely hot blowtorch flame in said secondary generating chamber, and means to supply the innermost part of said secondary chamber with fuel vapor. v

2. A carburetor comprising a primary generat-v ing chamber in which fuel is burned with a restricted amount of air to produce a fuel vapor and flame, means through which the fuel vapor l 'fuel vapor.

3. A carburetor comprising a primary generating chamber in which fuel is burned with a re'- stricted amount of air to produce a fuel vapor, means through which the fuel vapor is adapted to be drawn oil', said means defining a space constituting a secondary generating chamber, a partially perforated mantle in a covering position over said space the perforations admitting fresh air to the Vapor in said space so as to produce an intensely hot blowtorch flame in said secondary generating chamber, and means to supply the innermost part of said secondary chamber with fuel vapor.

4. A carburetor comprising -an oil cup and vmeans by which oil is converted into fuel vapor thus constituting the cup and said means a pri- 'mary generating chamber, a tube and a generator `cup spaced from said tube defining a secondary generating chamber, the bottom of the tube open- I ing into the'cup and the opening at the top of the cup communicating with the primary generating chamber, va mantle in inverted and spaced relationship to the top opening of the generator cup and having perforations adjacent to the top opening of said cup to admit fresh air to the vapor in the space and produce an intensely hot blowtorch flame in said secondary generating chamber, and means to supply the innermost part of said secondary chamber with fuel vapor. Y

5. A carburetor comprising an oil cup and. means therein by which oil is converted into fuel vapor, a generator cup extending into the oil' cup being open at its upper end., a perforated spider in the generator cup, a tube extending into the generator cup and having its lower portion sup-i ported by the spider, said lower portion containing a perforated disc, a mantle carried by the tube extending down over the generator cup in spaced relationship to said cup and to its open end, said mantle being perforated adjacent to the open end of the generator cup, and valved means to conduct fuel vapor to the perforated disc.

6. In a carburetor, a casing having an air opening, an oil cup situated in the casing, a wick in the oil cup at which oil is burned, a perforated mantle in the casing through the perforations of which air is supplied `for the burning of the oil, and means by which the mantle is supported at the wick in spaced relationship to the casing.

7. In a carburetor, a casing having an air opening, an oil cup situated in-the casing, a wick in the oil cup and supporting clamps for the wick including an outer curved strip for spacing the wick from the cup and supporting the wick, a perforated mantle through the perforations of which air is supplied from said opening for the burning of the oil, and means on the mantle so constructed as to rest on the strip and space the mantle from the casing.

CHARLES J. MUNDHENK. 

